Comment: This is not a NEW rumor, but it's been repeated as gospel for at
least 60 years. Is it true or not?

"You can get electrocuted by jamming a fork (or knife, etc) into a
toaster," the implication being that the metal might make contact with the
hot filaments and conduct a powerful jolt of electricity up your arm to
your heart or other vital organs.

I've been one of those "chance with danger" kids that would stick a knife/fork/whatever into a toaster to get my nfbsking Poptarts out, but since I didn't jam it into the toaster itself, I can't tell you any more. Unless i did, and I'm dead and don't know it.

Forcing a conductive material (i.e., metal fork/knife) into an energized and/or operating piece of electrical equipment does carry a risk of electroction.
It is entirely possible that a toaster with a fork contacting the power supply could pose a sufficient hazard.

Not realistic, since most equipment has resistors, safeguards, etc to protect against a full charge (110 volts) from the wall socket being conducted into a person. Also, death is subjective to the person and condition they are in (weight, health, standing on a metal plate, etc.), electricity doesn't always go "into heart or vital organs and kill you."

The rumor is Possible, but not realistic.

Simple answer, unplug the toaster first. Without the power source from the wall, the toaster is just a chunk of metal and wires.

I realize this is a bit OT but my MIL once picked up the toaster with wet hands so she could wipe up a spill on the counter. She didn't die but she did have a nice hole blown out of her thumb. Even if it doesn't kill you, electricity is dangerous!